Piano light



July 9,1935.

N. G. HORWITT PIANO LIGHT Filed June 19, 1934 2 She ets-S'neet l IVENT O :5

ATTORNEY Jl lly 9, 1935. N. HORWITT PIANO LIGHT Filed June 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY;

INVENTOR- BY W Patented July 9, 1935 "ATE- QEFLQ 2,007,164 V P ANO I GH I j Nathan-George-Horwitt, New-York,-N.-Y. A Ann ica io ilun h 9% e ial Nante 13 Glaims-. (Cl. 240- 4): I

showingthe lampv attached to :the keylidwhich i :in-vention .-relates.to .a llarnp mounted on the: keylllidl of. a.-piano-. The key lid; and the lamp together resultinlighting mea nsawhich canbe setto shed light simultaneously on the .music and onjt-he keyboard of the piano- "l-he'lamp. which is elongated, is set upon the-key. lid with its-.-longitudinal.axis horizontal and parallel to the .flfll'lb of :the .pi-ano, esaid lamp extending alongea substantial length of said li'd. The lamp has an} elongated cylindrical ishadejwlth a longitudinal slot therein. extending substantially the full lengt-hof the shader. Meansare provided in the lamp l suitable for-.mounting. lighting means throughout the length of the shade, preferably in the form of an elongated tubular electric light bulb having its terminal-Isiah the ends. of-thelongitudinal axis of the bulb. 'Thekey lid isprce vided with a lo-ngitudinalslot so that. the light shiningzthrough the slot of. the shade can shine through the lid. .onto;..the.keyboard.v The slotin the shado'is made wide enough, so that when the lid. is. lifted. to open position, light will shine from this. slot .uponmthe ;music held in the music holder of thespiano, and at the same timethrough the slot provided inthe lidonto the keyboard.

. Movable mea s. are provided; to shut off the, slot in the shadevaryingqainounts. It is possible to shut off-the latter slotso; that. no: light shines V on hemusi but nlyon the ke oard .W n th key; lid: is closed and the-slot in; theshade closed; means are providedto lock-the shade so that said latter slotcannot be exposed therebypreventing anyone, such; as a-child, frorntampering with the electric lightylrnilb ithin. Switching .jrneans are provided; so thatwhen the; key lidis'; clown the current is cut ofi automatically from the light bulb to preventheatingof the keyboard and other parts; of. the. piano' as would happen with the lid i closed, it the light .wereleft; on for Ta considerable period. Other.- switching means are provided so that, with: the zlid' raised, the. light is-autmatically turned onwhen the slot the shade is exposedmore than a predetermined amount and automaticallycut oiiwhen said slot is closed. 7

. As the slots; are brought 1 out. of registenthe light emittedis reduced accordingly until they .are

comp e ou fre s e osine'theilamiz egmpletely' v p V g I ,Qth swee s. andad entoeesi i become ap parent llponga iutther; stuchr. of-tthe 1 description andidrawingszmmvhichzr-" Fig. 1 is a partial front elevation oflthel piano is in ;.closed position.

big. 2 end elevation of the piano. --Fig.' 3 is an end, elevation taken similar to Fig. 2, except that the key 'lid is in open position andlight rays are indicated as coming fromthe lamp in open position, aportion of the end-wall of the. piano being. broken away. to show theparts more clearly. i 1 v Fig. 4 15a partial section to anenlarged scale taken along the line 4-4 of .Fig. 1v and shows the master switch; Fig. 5 is a partial broken section to an'ienlarged scale taken along theline 5 5 of .Fig. 2 with all parts of the piano ornitted except a portion' of they front lip of the keylid. The lightbulb is omitted. 1 V Fig. .6 isja section taken along the lined-.6 of Fig.1 5, a complete: section of the lamp being shown and .a portion of the key, lid.

Fig. '7 is a section, similar to Fig. 6, takenalong the line l-'l of Fig. 5, except thatalightrbulb is shown, and the lid and lamp are shown in the I open'position shown inFig. 3, the lampshades being in open position, and

Fig. 5a complete section through the lamp being shown and a portion ofv thekey. lid, thebulb be.- ing omitted toshow the parts. more. clearly.

The ,key. lid: 9., of a'piano. l9 has. attached, to the-front lip ll. of said lid a lamp denoted in its entiretyby thev numeral I 2. Thelamp isshown in; Figs. 1 and 7 .tohave in it an electric light bulb is} The light bulbis preferably an elongated slender cylindrical .bulb havingits terminals at the oppositeyends of the cylinder. j 7 The=lainp is provided with two elongated hollow cylindrical shades l4 and I5, .theinnershade' being marked M, and the...outer .shade'...being markedplii. The shades I4 and i5 fit at. their ends oyer hubs l5 and. H (Figs. land 5). I-Iubs l6 and]? are fixed to. .the front lip I I of key-1161 9.

In the'preferredembodiinent of the invention, outer shade l5 is free to rotate on hubs it and ll: and over-shade it which latter is fined to said hubs. It is within the. scope of the invention; however, to fix outer shade l5 andhave the inner shade. rotate or to have both shades rotatable.

I a 25 Fig. 8 is a section taken along the. line 8--.-8of v in register, light can come from the lamp, the amount of light varying in accordance with the overlap of the slots.

Inner shade I4 is shorter than outer shade I5, the. right hand (Fig. 5) overhanging portion of shade I5, being loosely mounted directly on hub while the overhanging portion at hub It has mounted within it a ratchet ring 20 which fits loosely on said latter hub. A pawl 2| is pivotally mounted substantially at the junction of hub I6 and lip II, a space being hollowed out (not shown) for the pawl. The heel of pawl 2| extends to the left and toward the middle of the thickness of lip entering a hole 22 provided in said lip. Slidably mounted in said hole is a plunger 23. In hole 22, between the heel of pawl 2| and plunger 23 is provided a compression spring 24. Above the heel of the pawl is slidably mounted plunger 25, and between the top of plunger 25 and the top of hole 22 is a compression spring 26. When key lid 9 is closed, plunger 23 contacts with the top of front lip 21 of the piano, said lip being shown in section in Fig. 4. This forces plunger 23 up into hole 22 which is the position shown for it in Fig. 5, the lid in said latter figure being shown, as will be remembered, in closed position. When plunger .23 is pushed up into hole 22, it forces spring 24, up against the heel of pawl 2 I, causing its toe to engage the teeth of ratchet ring 20. This prevents outer shade I5 from being rotated towards its open position, clockwise rotation in Fig. 6. A lug 28 on ratchet ring 28 prevents shade I5 from being rotated counterclockwise, Fig. 6, beyond its closed position,.by the engagement of said lug with the top of pawl 2|.

When key lid 9 is lifted to open position, as in Figs. 3 and 7, spring 23, acting through plunger 25, forces'down heel of pawl 2 I, disengaging said pawl from the teeth of ratchet ring 20, thereby releasing shade I5 for clockwise rotation to open position. At the sametime, under the influence of spring 24, plunger 23 is caused to project beyond the edge of lip I I. It is thus seen that when key lid 9 is closed, and shades I4 and I5 have been moved to closed position, they cannot be moved to open position. By locking said lid in closed position, tampering with the lamp is eflectively prevented.

Switching mechanism is provided, Figs. 5 and 8, which automatically sends current through light bulb I3, when shade I5 is moved to open position and which automatically shuts off the current when said shade is moved to closed position.

Hub I1 is hollowed out to hold a switch 29, which is of the well known type, that snaps off the current when switch lever 38 is in the position shown in Fig. 8 and snaps it on when said lever is tilted to the reverse position. A partial tilting of said lever in either direction causes it automatically to snap over the rest of the way. A forked lever 3| is pivotally mounted upon hub in a space provided therein, the fork of said latter lever engaging switch lever 30. Shade I5 is provided with an inwardly projecting lug 32 in line with lever 3|, so that when said shade is moved to closed position, clockwise motion as viewed in Fig. 8, said lug will'engage the right hand end of lever 3|. In Fig. 8, lug 32 is shownin its extreme position, with shade I5 completely closed, said lug in reaching this position having already given lever 3| a partial clockwise rotation which caused fork leg 33 to throw over switch lever 30 into the position shown. When shade I5 is moved to open position, counter-clockwise motion, Fig. 8, lug 34 contacts with the left hand end of lever 3| causing fork leg 35 to throw over switch lever 30 from the position shown, opening the circuit to electric bulb I3, said bulb being set between spring contacts 36, Fig. 5, the bulb itself not being shown in this figure. Continued rotation of shade I5 in a counter-clockwise direction is possible after lug 34 acting through lever 3| and fork leg 35 has caused switch lever 30 to be thrown into position opposite to that shown, that is tilted toward the right in Fig. 8, because lever 3| can have further counter-clockwise rotation as lug 34 continues to press against it. Lever 3| is rotated by shade I5 through lug 34, until the latter entirely clears the left hand end of lever 3|. When shade I5 is moved again-to closed position by rotating it clockwise, lug 34 clears the left hand end of lever 3|, said lever having remained clear. from the previous opening of shade I5. Said clockwise rotation causes lug 32 to engage the right hand end of lever 3| before said shade has reached its closed position. In order that lug 34 will pass the lower end of switch 29, said switch is tilted back (not shown) with its lower end below the plane of the paper in Fig. 8, just enough so that when shade i5 is moved to open position, lug 34 will come in front of the lower end of switch 29. No wiring is shown from switch 29 to spring contacts 36, it being within the knowledge of skilled persons to hollow out portions of lip II and hubs I6 and IT for suitable wires to run through. Similarly wires are brought to switch 29, through lid 9, the wires leading into said lid from the outside through tubular pivot 31 shown in Fig. 4. Before passing through pivot 31, the wires from the power supply are led to master switch 38, located in wood block 39, at the left end of keyboard 40, Figs. 1 and 4. Switch 38 is provided so that when the key lid 9 is closed, the current supply is automatically cut off from switch 29, so that the electric light bulb cannot remain lit when the lid is closed and thus subject the piano to undue and prolonged heat. Switch 38 has a plunger 4| which is normally spring held projecting toward the right as seen in Fig. 4. When the plunger 4| is free to project toward the right, the current is broken through switch 33. When lid 9 is rotated to open position, its heel .2 contacts with plunger 4|, pushing it in and thus closing the circuit through switch 38.

. -It is to be noted in Figs. 6 and 7 that a slot 43 is provided in lip II of lid 9. Shades I4 and I5 are partially sunk into slot 43, that is they are set to extend inward from the front plane of lip IL This reduces the amount the lamp projects from the front of the piano when the lid is closed, and with the lid raised, it allows. with certain types of grand pianos, the hinged top of the piano to be closed without coming against the top of the lamp. Said slot is substantially of the same length as slot I8 and comes opposite about one half the width of said latter slot. When shade I5 is in open position and the lid raised, Figs. 3 and '7, light from the electric light bulb I3 will pass through slots I8, I9 and 43 and fall upon keyboard 40. At the same time light will pass through the portions of slots I8 and I9 beyond lip II and fall upon any music that might be held in music holder 44.

Shade I5 can be set to any amount of closure, so as to control the light emitted. If partly closed only the keyboard is lit and the music is in darkness. I

,Wires 45 lead fromrs'pring contacts 136 through switches 2992,11d38 tolthe electrical supply As we e notshown,

Outer-shadel5 is. in elfect ashutter for 'closing offslot it of innershade i4.

I claimzr 7 y 1. Apiano light comprising'a pair of. elongated cylindrical shades, one loosely mounted within the other for relative rotation of (the shades with respect to ,each other, and a pair' of :hubs for mountingsaid shades on the key. lid of a piano with the longitudinal axes of the shades substantially parallel to the front of the piano, ahub being located at each end of the shades one of said shades being'fixed against rotation with respect to the hubs and the otherfree to rotate tending within the shades and acting as a bearing for the free shade, said shades being each provided with a longitudinal slot, the rotation of the free shade bringing the slots into and out of register. V

2. Incombination; a key lid mounted on the front of a piano, said lid when down closing off the keys of the. piano, and a lamp comprising a pair of elongated tubular shades, one loosely mounted within the other for relative rotation of the shades with respect to each other, means for mounting source'of electric light in said shades, means for mounting the shades on the key lid of a piano with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to .the front of the piano,

saidshades being of a length to extend along a opposite said shades and with respect to, the

keyboard, that light'shining through the shades Will pass through the lid and fall upon the key board when the lid is in raised position.

3.7111 combination, a key lid movably mounted on the front of a piano, said lid when down closing off the keyboard of the piano, and a lamp ccmprising an elongated tubular shade mounted on the lid with the longitudinal axis of the shade:

substantially parallel to the front of thezpiano, said shade having a longitudinal slot extending a substantial portion of the length of the shade, movable means for shutting off and exposing said slot, means for mounting a source of electric light in said shade, said shade being so located with respect to the music holder of the piano when the lid, is raised, that light shining through the slot of the shade will fall upon the music, said lid being slotted opposite the slot of the shade, and with respect to the keyboard, that light shining through, slot of the shade will pass through the lid and fall upon the keyboard when on the keyboard, and switch mea'ns associated with said connecting means actuated by closing the lid to effect the cutting off of the electric supply.

5. 'In combination, a key lid movably mounted on the front of a piano, said lid when closed,

shutting off the keyboard of the piano; 2. fixed block located at onelend of the keyboard opposite an end of said lid, a lamp mounted on the lid, means for connecting an electric lightbulb mounted in the lamp to'an electric supply, said lamp, when the lid is opened, being located to throw light simultaneously'jon music held in the music holder of the piano and on theikeyboard,

and switch means associated with said connecting means actuated bythe coming together and separation of said block and said end of the lid as said lid is opened and closed to complete, the circuit from theelectric supply to said connect-f. ing means when the lid is opened and to break saidfcircuit when the lid is closed.

6. In combination, a key lid movably mounted on the front of a piano,said lid when closed shutting cif the keyboard of the piano, a lamp com.- prising an, elongated tubular shade mounted on the lid with the longitudinal axis of'the shade substantially parallel to the front of. the piano, 7

said shade having a longitudinal slot, movable means for shutting off and exposing said slot, means for mounting a source of electric lightin the shade, said slot, when the lid is opened, being located to permit the lightpassing throughit to fall simultaneously on music held in the music holder of the piano and on lit-he key board and locking 'mechanism associated with the movable means for-locking same against motionto expose the slot, the locking action of said mechanism being effected when the lid is set in closed position.

'7. A combination as claimed in claim 6, in which the locking mechanism is mounted on the lid with a portion projecting therefrom, said por tion contacting with a stationary portion of the piano when the lid is closed, effecting thereby the locking action of said mechanism.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 2, in

which one of the shades is fixed against rotation relatively to the lid, the other being rotatable relatively to the lid, said combination having in addition locking mechanism mounted on the lid associated with said rotatable shade, said mechanism having a portion movable with respect to the lid, saidportion contacting with a stationary portion of the piano when the lid is closed, causing thereby the locking mechanismto prevent the rotation of the rotatable shade in a direction to move its slot out of register with the slot of the fixed shade. v

V l 9. A piano light comprising a pair of elongated tubular shades, one loosely mounted within the other for relative rotation of the shades with respect to each other, means for mounting said shades on the key lid of a piano with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the front of the piano, one of said shades being fixed against rotation'relatively to said lid, means for connecting an electric light bulb mounted in the lamp to an electric supply, said shades being each provided with a longitudinal slot, the rotation of the movable shade relative to the fixed one bringing the slot of the movable shade into and out of register with the slot of the fixed one, and a switch device, associated with the movable shade, actuated by same to out off the electric supply to the light bulb when its slot is out of register by more than a predetermined amount with the slot of the fixed shade.

10. In combination a key lid mounted on the front of a piano, a lamp comprising a pair of elongated shades one loosely mounted within the other, means for mounting said shades on the key lid with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the front of the piano, said shades being of a length to extend along a substantial portion of the keyboard, one of said shades being fixed against rotation relatively to said lid when mounted thereon, while the other one is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, the fixed shade being provided with a longitudinal openlng, the rotation of the rotatable shade shutting oh and exposing said opening, the opening of the fixed shade being located with respect to the music holder of the piano and the keyboard when the lamp is mountd 0n the lid and the latteris in raised position that light shining through its opening will fall upon the music and the key-.

board.

-11. In combination, a key lid mounted on the front of a piano, said lid when shut closing off the keys of the piano, and a lamp comprising an elongated tubular shade mounted'on the lid with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front of the piano, said shade being open for a substantial portion of its length, means for shutting oil and exposingsaid open portion, said lid having a slot therein in register with the open portion of the shade, said shade being partially sunk in said slot, said slot being located with respect to the keyboard when the lid is raised, that light shining through it falls upon the keyboard.

12. In combination, a key lid rotatably mounted on the front of the piano, said lid having a front lip which stands in a substantially vertical sition when the lid is down and closing ofi the keyboard, said lip extending in a substantially horizontal position when the lid is raised, and a lamp comprising an elongated shade mounted on said lip with the longitudinal axis of the shade substantially parallel to the front of the lip, said shade being open for a substantial portion of its length, means for shutting off and exposing said open portion, said lip having a slot therein in register with the open portion of the shade.

13. In combination, a key lid mounted on the front of a piano for closing off the keys of the piano, a lamp mounted on the lid, said lamp comprising a pair of elongated tubular shades one loosely mounted within the other, means for mounting said shades on the key lid with their longitudinal axes substantially horizontal and parallel to the front of the piano, one of said shades being fixed against rotation relatively to said lid While the other one is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and means for mounting a source of light inside the shades and for transmitting electric current thereto, said shades being each provided with an opening, said openings being brought into and out of register in accordance with the motion of the rotatable shade, said lid having an opening therein in register with the opening of the fixed shade, the opening in the fixed shade and the opening in the lid being so located when the lid is raised, that with the openings in the shades in register, light will shine through the shade and lid openings upon the keyboard and through the shade openings upon the music.

NATHAN GEORGE HORWITT. 

